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  What it means

  “To fish before the net.” To act prematurely, before the proper tools or conditions are in place. Equivalent to counting your chickens before they hatch, or jumping the gun.

  English equivalent

  Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

  Vocabulary

  • łowić — to catch, to fish
  • ryby — fish (plural accusative)
  • niewód — dragnet, fishing net

  Grammar note

  'Przed niewodem' uses the instrumental case after 'przed' (before, in front of).

  Cultural context

  The niewód is a large traditional fishing net dragged through water — fishing before it is deployed is obviously futile.

  Intermediate

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